Cali DL prospect to trip to WSU this weekend

BRAULIO PEREZ

10/08/2012

WHEN MIKE LEACH hired his d-line coach, Joe Salave'a, he knew the nine-year NFL vet with Pac-12 coaching experience wouldn't just bring football knowledge to the Palouse. A highly touted DL prospect, who will take an official visit to WSU this weekend, tells CF.C he loves the Cougar program and his budding relationship with Salave'a is a major reason why.

Salave'a made a splash in the abbreviated 2012 recruiting efforts in helping to land sought prospects like Destiny Vaeao. And he's doing more of the same for the 2013 class. Nick Terry, a 6-4, 270 pound defensive line prospect from Elk Grove, Calif., will be in Pullman this Saturday to watch the Cougars take on the California Golden Bears (7:30 p.m., TV: Pac-12 network).

The Pleasant Grove High d-lineman has been hearing from the Cougars since last spring and he told CF.C recently that he's sitting on pins and needles to board his flight to head to Pullman on Saturday.

"I can't wait to check out the campus and see them play," Terry said. "I love the program and I could see myself playing there. That's why I'm going to WSU for one of my trips."

In addition to Washington State, Terry holds offers from Oregon State, Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, Fresno State, San Jose State and Cal Poly. He has trimmed his list to a final four, with visits set to WSU (Oct. 13), Nevada (still planning visit date), Boise State (Nov. 2) and Oregon State (Nov. 24).

ALTHOUGH HE HAS other visits scheduled, Terry said his relationship with Salave'a, Leach and area recruiter Clay McGuire will be a deciding factor for when he makes his college decision.

"It's the school that I've been building the best bond with the coaches," Terry said. "Since they offered me, I've talked with the coaches every week. They are showing me that the really want me to come play for them and that really sticks out."

There's one more thing that might be another advantage for Washington State.

"I live in Elk Grove and it's a small country town," Terry said. "I want to go somewhere where I can stay out of trouble and focus on football. A small community would be best for me, especially if it's a big football town."

MAKING AN IMPACT on Terry's recruitment for the Cougs is his potential future position coach.

"I have a really good relationship with Coach Salave'a," Terry said. "I talk with him every couple of days and he came to my school a few weeks ago to see me. He's a great coach and he talked about how excited he is for me to visit Pullman."

Salave'a played nine seasons in the NFL and was the defensive line coach at Arizona from 2010-2011. That experience, Terry said, stands out when he considers playing for his potential future position coach.

"He definitely understands the game," Terry said. "When I talk to him, he understands that I want to get on the field early. He said coming to WSU is a great opportunity to come in and compete as a freshman. WSU is a growing team and they're getting a lot better. The coaches want to bring in a class of guys who are used to winning to take WSU to the top."

Terry described himself as a physical player who loves flying into the backfield to attack the quarterback, but also has the same passion for plugging the holes and stopping running backs at the line.

He plays d-end for Pleasant Grove and WSU has talked to him about playing both DT and DE in their 3-4 defense. Terry said he feels most comfortable coming off the edge.

Terry has a 3.0 GPA and scored a 1450 on his SATs. He plans on making his college decision after his prep football season.